Fluoridation

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 3

Fluoridation

Sir,—lf “J.J.F.” is so sure about “J.W.R.’s” quoted scientific evidence being double-talk, let him crush his opponents, on their own ground, in one of the many journals devoted to the work of scientists. All that counts in these are observation, logic, and objectivity, and, as “J.J.F.” is no doubt liberally endowed with these “natural” attributes, he can hope for nothing but success. Scientific ’ propositions are not proved or disproved in the correspondence column nor by popular vote; if so, we could vote out the law of gravitation and Newton’s laws of motion, thereby removing the causes of most accidents. Perhaps “J.J.F.” would be happier living naked in the bush, worshipping the local creek, living “naturally,” and also nastily, brutishly, and not for long.—Yours, etc., J. DUGDALE. December 2, 1959.

Sir,—On behalf of “Howling Obstructionists” I should like to refute the inference that we are all ignoramuses. I for one, have a science degree and am confident I know more about water and its properties than Mr Dugdale. I would suggest to Mr Dugdale that he is the one ignorant of logic. He, like all his friends, wants to have their cake and eat it, too. His children should have all the sweets, soft white bread, and other rubbish they want, and then be dosed with fluoride. If Mr Dugdale is as bright as he infers, he will be the first admit two wrongs do not make a right. It is not dependence which keeps me on the sidewalk. It is sanity. I have no better judge than myself for what I do or do not drink with my water.—Yours, etc.,

D. G. HAMILTON. December 2, 1959.

Sir, —It really is amazing that, when the weight of scientific and professional opinion is so strongly in favour of fluoridation, anybody can continue to hold the bigoted outlook evidenced by the opponents in recent letters. These scientific and professional men have the good of the children’s teeth so much at heart that they do not consider the probable reduction in work that fluoridation would mean to them. May I say how good it is to see sensible letters from J. Dugdale and “J.W.R.”—Yours, etc., MAC. December 2, 1959.